Supporting wall installation

ABSTRACT

A supporting wall installation, in particular to attach sanitary units in the form of washstands, WCs, bidets, urinals and the like, is characterized by support columns which are substantially triangular or trapezoidal in horizontal section and consist of a torsionally stiff frame construction and at least one areal planking attached to the respective support column and forming a supporting wall installation together with the support column or the support columns.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from German Application No. 201 17 709.9, filed: on Oct. 30, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a supporting wall installation, in particular for the mounting of sanitary devices in the form of washstands, WCs, bidets, urinals and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Sanitary devices are frequently installed in a conventional manner using the so-called pre-wall installation, for which purpose complex and/or expensive, heavy metal frames are required on which, in turn, heavy facing tiles have to be installed. To install these known pre-wall installations, fitting aids such as floor rails and, wall rails, spacers, spandrels, connecting tabs, crossbars and the like are needed, which results overall in a complex and/or expensive and time-consuming total installation.

[0004] It is the object of the invention to replace the conventional pre-wall installation system with a supporting wall installation which can be realized in a simple and low-price manner and which allows a space-saving installation of sanitary devices with minimal installation times.

[0005] This object is substantially satisfied by support columns which are substantially triangular or trapezoidal in shape in horizontal section and consist of a torsionally stiff frame construction as well as at least one areal planking attached to the respective support column and forming a supporting wall installation together with the support column or support columns.

[0006] The support columns which are used in accordance with the invention and which are triangular or trapezoidal in cross-section are extremely torsionally stiff and self-supporting due to their shape and they are preferably not only decoupled with respect to structure-borne noise, but are also steplessly variably adjustable in height and depth. Their width dimension preferably lies at approximately 360 mm and their depth dimension at approximately 175 mm, i.e. very compact, and above all narrow, elements are present. A powder coated metal frame construction is preferably provided for the installation of these support columns.

[0007] A particularly advantageous embodiment or further development within the context of the invention consists of at least two support columns being connected to one another and/or to adjoining wall parts while forming a structure which is rectangular or X-shaped or defines a corner angle in cross-section.

[0008] A foamed, closed cell material is preferably used as the planking which normally serves as the tile carrier, said material absorbing no moisture and additionally having heat insulating and sound absorbing properties.

[0009] This tile carrier is in particular reinforced on both sides by a glass cloth and coated with plastic enhanced mortar so that tiles can be stuck on without any further pre-treatment.

[0010] A tile carrier designed in this manner is characterized by a particularly low weight which, as a rule, is lower than 3 kg/m² with a tile thickness of approximately 20 mm and which also allows larger areas to be continuously planked with one tile. This shape stable and impact resistant tile carrier can be fitted to the torsionally stiff support columns by self-tapping drilling screws.

[0011] It is furthermore of special advantage that, due to the possible combinations of support columns and plankings, practically any desired combinations of corner, diagonal or wall-parallel pre-wall installations are made possible; however, without the disadvantages of the previously customary pre-wall installations.

[0012] Further advantageous features of the invention are recited in the dependent claims.

[0013] Embodiments of the invention will be explained in the following with reference to the drawing.

[0014] The drawing shows:

[0015]FIG. 1 a schematic part representation of a bathroom with different sanitary articles which are installed using a supporting wall installation in accordance with the invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a part region of a bathroom with sanitary equipment suitable for the handicapped; and

[0017] FIGS. 3 to 10 different examples of combination options and arrangement variants of support columns in accordance with the invention, in particular also in connection with fitted pieces of furniture.

[0018]FIG. 1 shows an example of a supporting wall installation in accordance with the invention to mount a plurality of sanitary elements 5. This supporting wall installation consists of three support columns 1 which are fitted to a building wall 3 spaced apart from one another and which can also be termed compact elements. These support columns 1 are substantially triangular in shape and have end regions made in a flattened manner such that a trapezoidal structure is specifically created in cross-section. These support columns 1 are designed in the form of a powder coated metal frame construction, are self-supporting and extremely torsionally stiff thank to their shape. Thanks to the attachment of the support columns 1 to the wall 3 in a simple and fast manner, a supporting structure is provided for a planking 2 which can have a large area design and which is preferably connected to the support columns 1 by means of self-tapping drilling screws. This planking 2, which is preferably formed in a closed cell manner, is reinforced on both sides with glass cloth and coated with plastic enhanced mortar such that tiles can be stuck on without any further pre-treatment. A stable supporting wall construction is created by the combination of the torsionally stiff support columns 1 with the shape stable and impact resistant planking and the respectively needed sanitary elements 5 can be attached to said construction by means of the support columns 1.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention in connection with an equipping of a sanitary room suitable for the handicapped. In this case, the support columns 1 are arranged group-wise in an adjoining manner such that, in combination with the planking 2, optimum conditions are provided for the installation of a sanitary article 5 in combination with support handles 6, or folding support handles, arranged at both sides of the sanitary article 5.

[0020] This variant illustrates that all installation demands which occur in practice can be taken into account without problem by the variability with respect to the arrangement and/or positioning of the support columns or compact elements 1, and indeed always with a minimum overall effect both with respect to the construction elements and to the installation time.

[0021] FIGS. 3 to 10 show different combination possibilities of support columns 1 among one another and with fitted pieces of furniture 4 and also allow the planking options which thereby arise to be recognized. In all cases, the triangular or trapezoidal structure of the support columns 1 in accordance with the invention is of major importance.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows the combination of two support columns 1 which are triangular in cross-section and which are attached at one side surface in an adjoining manner and at their other side surface to the respective wall 3. Two plankable functional surfaces are thus provided in this manner to receive sanitary elements.

[0023]FIG. 4 shows the combination of a support column 1, which is trapezoidal in cross-section and which is attached at its narrow surface to the wall 3, having two furniture elements 4 arranged in an adjoining manner at both sides such that a flush surface is created at the front.

[0024]FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of compact elements or support columns 1, which are triangular in cross-section, at both sides of a fitted piece of furniture 4, with the free surfaces of the support columns 1 being able to form receiving areas for sanitary elements,

[0025]FIGS. 6 and 7 show the combination of a fitted piece of furniture 4 of a larger volume comprising one or two support columns 1 respectively which are positioned areally and flushly adjoining the respective side end of the piece of furniture and whose exposed surface in turn forms receiving areas for sanitary elements.

[0026]FIG. 8 shows a combination of two support columns 1 in connection with a corner wall region 3, with the support columns 1 adjoining at their tips while forming an X structure and with a base structure thus being provided which allows the reception of two sanitary elements and a variable planking or a corresponding combination with fitted pieces of furniture.

[0027]FIG. 9 shows, again in connection with a wall corner 3, the combination of triangular support columns 1, and indeed such that in this case three receiving areas for sanitary elements are provided which are each offset with respect to one another by an angle of 90°.

[0028]FIG. 10 shows an inner corner region of a wall 3 having two support columns 1 which are arranged spaced apart with respect to the corner and which can, for example, be connected via a planking. An accessible corner space can also remain without a connecting planking.

[0029] While the, examples described above always show the support columns 1 in direct connection with wall regions 3, it must be emphasized that an advantage of the support columns and support column/planking combinations in accordance with the invention consists of the support columns being installable together with their associated plankings via attachment possibilities of the support columns present at the floor side in each case also with a spacing from room walls.

[0030] In this case, the support columns can be attached either directly atn the floor side or frame foundations to be attached to the floor are used which can be coupled with the support columns.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0031]1 support column (compact element)

[0032]2 planking

[0033]3 wall part

[0034]4 fitted piece of furniture

[0035]5 sanitary element

[0036]6 support handle 

1. A supporting wall installation, in particular to attach sanitary units in the form of washstands, WCs, bidets, urinals and the like, characterized by support columns (1) which are substantially triangular or trapezoidal in horizontal section and consist of a torsion resistant frame construction and at least one areal planking (2) attached to the respective support column (1) and forming a supporting wall installation together with the support column (1) or the support columns (1).
 2. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the support columns (1) can be fixed at the wall side and/or at the floor side and/or to one another.
 3. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the support columns (1) are adjustable in height and/or depth.
 4. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that in particular the frame parts of the support columns disposed at the corner side are made for stationary fixing and/or for planking attachment.
 5. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least two support columns (1) are connected to one another and/or to adjoining wall parts (3) while forming a structure which is rectangular, X shaped or defines a corner angle in cross-section.
 6. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the support columns (1) are arranged mutually spaced apart and are connected to one another by the areal planking (2).
 7. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the areal planking (2) extends beyond the support columns (1) and is led up to terminal walls, installed items and the like.
 8. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the support columns (1) are arranged flushly adjoining fitted pieces of furniture (4).
 9. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the areal planking (2) is made as a tile carrier.
 10. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the tile carrier consists of a foamed, closed cell plastic material, in particular of polystyrene, polyurethane and the like, and is preferably reinforced by glass cloth on one or both sides.
 11. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that a coating of plastic enhanced mortar is applied to the reinforcing fabric.
 12. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the width of the support columns (1) amounts to approximately 360 m and their depth to approximately 175 mm.
 13. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the support columns (1) consist of a powder coated metal frame construction.
 14. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the front surface of the support columns (1) is fitted with attachment devices for sanitary elements (5) and/or with support handles or folding support handles (6), with in particular a steplessly variable adjustment of the attachment height being provided.
 15. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the areal plankings (2) can be attached to the support columns (1) in particular by self-tapping drilling screws.
 16. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the support columns (1) can be installed together with the areal plankings (2) spaced apart from room walls (3) via attachment means at the floor side.
 17. A supporting wall installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that all sources of noise contained in the wall installation are acoustically decoupled from the total framework, in particular by softly resilient intermediate parts. 